How long do vampires live?

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Vampires are purported to live forever, barring any type of attempt to kill them. Legend has it that a vampire can only be killed if it's stabbed through the heart with a stake, shot through the heart with a silver bullet, burned, beheaded or exposed to sunlight, although vampires are also intolerant of garlic, holy water and crucifixes.

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According to popular belief among vampire enthusiasts, vampires drink blood from the living and hunt them under the cover of darkness. The vampire sucks the blood from the necks of its victims using its fangs, leaving behind the telltale two puncture holes in the victim.

Vampires are said to be able to take the form of a wolf or bat, a feature that allows them to take their victims by surprise. It is said that vampires have unparalleled strength and can be detected by their inability to cast a reflection in a mirror. Most vampires in popular culture sleep in coffins during the day while the mortal world is awake.

The original allure of the vampire is linked to the Romanian prince Vlad Tepes, who was also known as Vlad the Impaler. It is widely believed that Bram Stoker's Dracula character was based on Tepes. Researchers think that older versions of vampires were actually references to demonic entities.

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Sarah Albert at WebMD says that superstitions start when a ritual or belief is given magical significance. For instance, if a woman believes that a black cat crossing her path means she has to go back home and start over or suffer bad luck, she follows a superstition. Superstitions spread when they "work," and other people repeat them.